A paradox of our times.
We can and do travel the oceans and yet,we find it hard to converse with neighbours .....we have wider roads but narrower viewpoints,we have taller buildings but shorter tempers ,we have more knowledge but less judgement,we expect higher incomes but have lower morals.
And this is life in 2022........and I don't know why,or whats gone wrong.
Maybe life was simpler, and to a degree more enjoyable when less was more ?A paradox of our times.
I remember a simpler time Roddy when people actually met each other rather than using Instagram, Facebook and the like. There’s so much isolation and loneliness these days and not always very much kindness around. I do however live in hope that our lives will improve, the sun will shine, people will smile at each other again. Less is often more and the simpler things in life shall prevail……xxx💜
we can but hope that life will become kinder,it is a big ask but we should, and kindness before greed would be a mantra to follow.
I remember when the pandemic first hit and the usual things were cancelled but there were things that weren't such as kindness wasn't when we donated items to the food bank, reading wasn't cancelled, yard work wasn't cancelled, listening to music wasn't cancelled so we had concentrated on what wasn't cancelled rather than cribbing over what was!
I wonder if it's really a paradox Roddy, as it seems to me that materialism seems to have produced most of our lack of empathy for others. Greed has overtaken compassion and that's evident when you meet or hear of people who have simply stepped outside of desire for things in favour of simplicity of mind and action. If you want to find contentment and its source, it's maybe easiest to find in communities of religious seclusion - among perhaps monks and nuns of any faith and those who would rather commune with nature than with a society self obsessed with how it looks. I agree with sassy that less is usually more. When I think back on my own life and family, the times when we had the least materially were actually the times when we were much richer in love and laughter. Being financially poor can bring its own misery but it does draw people closer together for comfort.
very thought provoking reply Sue,and i know i was much happier and content before people became obsessed with the material ,and even now i crave for nothing,in fact a friend recently said to me ''i cant understand you putting up with an old fashioned kitchen' ,yes it is old,and in many parts Victorian,but i honestly am very happy with it,it suits me well.x
Its the same in our family we feel more content with less nowadays and years ago we were contented with less as well.
In these times we feel fortunate to be able to eat at all when so many poor people go without and feel as long as we have what we need then that's all that matters saying no to silly adverts for material goods!
And why not Roddy? I experienced something similar when I first arrived in the Caribbean and discovered that, at that time, kitchens were for cooking in and not a status symbol to be shown off to friends. It was so refreshing and taught me to be content with less.
Here covid has taught us to be content with less as well!
Just before Christmas we did a pantry challenge and ate down our pantry and gave some items to our local food bank thinking of all those who were going without basics this Christmas.
Since my dad died last April I have discovered life is full of paradoxes!
Also how very little is urgent and important either and needs to be done NOW!
I've lived with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for over 20 years, very reduced income and activities, income wise I've got a roof over my head, food in the cupboard and bills are paid, my last holiday was 4 years ago, I work 3 days a week which suits me, allows me time for housework, shopping etc, so yes, I'd love to go away for a few days, but income has been more reduced due to being off sick after the fall, but I know where my priorities lie
Yes, Jennymary, I guess we could all focus on how we'd like life to be but there's a lot of merit in accepting our personal status quo and dwelling on what we have, rather than what we don't have.
Very true but not universal there are plenty of the old fashioned sort about still They just make less noise
Very true too FredaE and it's maybe a pity that our voices become so muted that it often seems we don't exist at all.
Do you not think though that as we get older we do indeed get wiser and therefore more able to recognise what’s important ? I often think that I should be unhappy with the life I have now , but I’m really not , for the most part I’m truly content , lucky to have lovely family , a husband who whilst extremely poorly is still a great companion, friends , neighbours, pets , visiting wildlife Eventually those who think“stuff” equates to happiness will realise they’re wrong , perhaps they just need more time That said I also count myself lucky to know some truly wonderful young people who are extremely caring and considerate. I agree during my childhood in the 1950’s life was simpler but I believe there are still a lot of kind people in the world , unfortunately due to modern technology we get to hear much more about the bad
The ups and downs of life
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